Broken Arrow is getting ‘tactical’ with its urban planning

The City Council voted to authorize a $15,000 expenditure from the 2021 General Fund for the utilization of a Tactical Urbanism project for New Orleans Square.

The urban planning project is part of a revitalization effort for the Elm and New Orleans intersection.

It is a recommendation of the Elm and New Orleans Planning Committee, a group of citizens tasked with finding innovative ways to stimulate interest in south Broken Arrow.

“I think it’s a good plan to encourage excitement about the new direction,” said Committee Member Scott Moore. “I am excited to get the ball rolling and get people excited about being in a revitalized area.”

The first tactical urbanism project should be in place sometime in September.

Also referred to as guerrilla urbanism, pop-up urbanism, city repair, and D.I.Y Urbanism, municipalities have been utilizing these types of urban planning projects for more than 10 years.

The goal is to loosen up the planning process and increase communication flow between citizens and city government. These projects implement low-cost temporary changes to the built environment, usually in cities intended to improve local neighborhoods and city gathering places.

“It’s a deliberate, phased approach to instigating change,” said Broken Arrow Community Development Director Larry Curtis. “It’s the offering of local solutions to planning challenges with short term commitment and realistic expectations.”

Curtis showed the council various examples of these projects, such as balloon canopies over streets, artistic street signs, flower boxes made from containers, and splashes of color bike lanes on painted streets.

Tactical Urbanism boosts excitement and offers low-risk opportunities with the possibility of high reward.

“Typically, tactical urbanism is spontaneous,” Curtis said. “We can educate the public that something is coming. Through our committee, we are going to be making some drastic changes in the area.”